Michelin-Starred Chef Curtis Stone Shares an Unexpected $4 Ingredient He Loves Cooking With

You can snag the Waterloo Ginger Citrus Twist Sparkling Water to enjoy on a hot spring day, or use it to make Curtis' delish fish and chip recipe.

"The common misconception is that you need a whole knife set in your kitchen but I'm a firm believer that you only really need one or two sizes of high quality Japanese or German steel knives," Curtis shares. 

Test out this Japanese Chef Knife that is currently on sale at Amazon. One reviewer shares that the knife is "great quality, sharp and well crafted."

"This seems like a no-brainer but having the right surface for prepping sets that perfect foundation for your cooking," Curtis shares. "A nice quality board won't one warp, crack, bow or bend and there are some beautiful large wood boards that also make great serving vessels."

This nonslip serving and cutting board fits the bill. It's beautifully designed and durable, and only $20 at Target.

"A quality food processor is a great way to cut down on your prep time and break down food quickly, which can also make cooking less intimidating to an at-home chef," Curtis explains. "Work smarter not harder!"

You can snag this Cuisinart food processor on Amazon for sale for just $30. It has chop and grind controls that will definitely help you "work smarter" in the kitchen.

"If you're going to make nice drinks, you need the right type of ice cubes!" Curtis shares. "There are a variety of molds you can get, like big spheres or squares, and you can switch up what you freeze, like juices, coffee or even wine, which can really wow a dinner party."

These silicone ice cube molds are made with BPA free, nontoxic, odorless and durable food grade silicone. They have removable lids and a simple, non-stick design. One reviewer shares, "I can't believe how well the lids work. They wrap around the edge, and even though it's soft silicone, they don't pop off and they don't leak any water whatsoever. These are amazing."

"Using non-stick cookware is a game changer when it comes to making a healthy meal with ease," Curtis shares. "My line of cookware, Dura-Pan, is versatile, scratch resistant and easy to wash and clean, which is why it's an absolute kitchen must have."

"Using a mandolin is the best way to get super fine, thinly sliced vegetables and fruits that allow you to incorporate good texture into a dish," Curtis shares. "Without one, you really can't replicate that thin slice with a regular knife."

For a super easy and functional vegetable chopper and mandolin slicer, you can snag this slicing machine that's on sale for $20. It has grater and slicer blades that will cut down your kitchen time.

When it comes to his most practical kitchen item, Curtis points to an immersion blender.

"An immersion blender is an unsung kitchen hero!" he exclaims. "Not only can you use one to make different soups and sauces, they also allow you to create texture with your cooking liquids, which can add dimension to your dishes."

Check out this KitchenAid hand blender from Target that is perfect for crafting all sorts of recipes.

"I feel like every kitchen needs one piece of copper cookware, but it can be quite pricey!" Curtis says when asked what his favorite splurge-worthy kitchen item is. "Not only are they great to cook in, they're also beautiful display pieces or serving ware. You can often find copper cookware on sale or even at vintage or thrift stores."

Check out this set of nonstick copper frying pans from Amazon for $66. They'll totally elevate your kitchen game, and one reviewer shares, "The heat distribution is easily my favorite. Makes cooking more special. Also, it's a little heavier than a normal skillet but not too bad. It's also super easy to clean."

"Microplane grater is another versatile tool to have in your kitchen," according to Curtis. "Most popularly these are used for zesting citrus, but you can use them for a variety of tasks including softening butter, grating spices, mincing garlic and more."

Snag this classic microplane grater from Amazon with over 7,600 perfect reviews. You can use it to grate cheese, zest citrus, mince garlic and more!

When it comes to an inexpensive kitchen hack, Curtis shares, "Truffles are an amazing ingredient but can often be cost prohibitive. One of my favorite tricks is using dried mushroom powder, like a dried porcini powder, anywhere you might want to use truffles like in a risotto or pasta dish."

This dried porcini powder from Amazon is "sooo good," according to reviewers. You can use it in stews, pastas, seasoning on various meats and more.